Leonldas sennett



(No Model.)

WITNESSES- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1-.

L. SENN-ETT. TORPBDO PLAOER. 1

Patent ed Mar. 29, 1.892.

(No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet 2.

' L. SENNETT.

T ORPEDO PLAGEB.

No. 471,984. Patented Mar. 29; 1892.

\AT I union.

- LEONIDAS SEN NETT, OF RUSSELL, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOGEORGE P. CLANOY AND THOMAS ONEILL DEMARO, OF SAME PLACE.

TORPEDO-PLACER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,984, dated March29, 1892.

Application filed January 25, 1892. Serial No. 419,180. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEONIDAS SENNETT, of

Russell, in the county of Greenup and State of Kentucky, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo-Placers; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,which form part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to an improvement in torpedo-placers; and itconsists in certain novel features of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of parts, which will be fully describedhereinafter, and more particularly referred to in the claims.

The object of my invention is to construct a machine which willautomatically place torpedoes upon the track while the train is inmotion.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmy improved machine. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, shown partly insection. Fig. 3 is a plan View. Fig. 4 is a detail view of theguidewheel and supporting-frame therefor, shown partly in section. Fig.5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line X X of Fig. 3.

A represents the rear platform of a car, to which is pivoted at A theoutwardly-projecting arm B, having slot B, through which extends theset-bolt C, by means of which the said arm is adjusted laterally on theplatform. The extended end of the arm B- is forked and the outer ends ofthe forks are connected by the pivoted bar D, which is adapted to swingoutward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Extending inward throughthis pivoted bar is the set-screw E.

F represents a casing, which fits the forked end of the arm B and whichisadjusted vertically therein by means of the screw E, as will beunderstood. Adapted to move vertically in this casing is the rod G, tothe lower end of which is secured the depending forked frame H. The rodG and frame H are held normally in a raised position by the spiralspring I, interposed between the top of the casing F and the head G ofthe rod G.

Formed upon the inner sides of the forks H of the frame H are thevertical guideways I, and adapted to move vertically therein is theforked frame J, carrying stop J, which projects through a slot in theguideway I, and by this means the movement of the said frame is limited.

Extending downward from the body of the frame H is the rod K, whichpasses through an opening in the top of the frame J, and placed aroundthis rod is the spiral spring K, which holds the frame J normally awayfrom the body of the frame H, or, in other words, extended downward.

Journaled in the lower ends of the sliding frame J is thespring-actuated wheel L, to the periphery of which are secured thetorpedoholding clasps L. WVhen free to revolve, the spring within theWheel causes it to revolve in the direction of the arrow.

Placed upon one side of the wheel L are the stops M, which are engagedby the inwardly-projecting end of the lever N, which is pivoted betweenits ends to the fork H, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer end of this leveris connected to the stop J by means of the rod N, so that when the frameH is depressed and the wheel L brought in contact with the rail it willpush upward the frame J, thus drawing upward the rod N and releasing theleverN from the stop H, with which it is in engagement. The wheel thusreleased is thrown around by the spring within, and a torpedo 0, held bythe clasp L, is deposited on the track. The hold which the said clasphas on the torpedo is a very slight one, so that when the spring-arms ofthe torpedo are pushed downward around the track they secure asufficient hold to detach the torpedo from the clasp. Any number ofclasps may be placed on the periphery of the wheel that may be desired,and for every push on the rod G the lever N is released from theengaging stop M and a torpedo deposited on the rail.

Extending outward from the frame H are the arms P, and adapted to movevertically in the outer ends thereof are the Vertical arms Q, in thelower ends of which is journaled the flanged wheel R. The arms Q areconnected immediately above the periphery of the wheel by thecross-piece S, and extending upward therefrom is the vertical rod S, theupper end of which passes through the cross-piece P, connecting theouter ends of the arms I. Surrounding this rod, between the cross-piecesS and P, is the coiled spring T, which limits the vertical movement ofthe wheel R and enables the said wheel to exert a pressure upon therailwhen in engagement therewith.

The wheel above described normally extends somewhat below the wheel L,so that when the frame H is pushed downward for the purpose of placing atorpedo the flanged wheel will meet the rail first, and, being flangedinward toward the center, the wheel will be guided directly over thecenter of the rail, and as the said flanged wheel and thetorpedo-placing wheel are in line it will be seen that the last-11am edwheel is brought squarely over the track before the torpedo isdeposited. This feature is of great advantage, as the track is oftenirregular and the whole device is liable to be thrown out of adjustmenton the car-platform by the swaying and jarring of the train.

\Vhen the train man desires to deposit a torpedo, he presses downward onthe'rod G, operating the mechanism, as above described, releasing thespring-actuated wheel and placing a torpedo at the desired point uponthe track. The stops M on the wheel L are set at such an angle that whenthe force of the spring in the wheel is spent the wheel may be revolvedin the reverse direction without coming in contact with the lever N,thus winding up the spring; but as soon as this operation is completedand the wheel released it will, in moving in the opposite direction, bestopped by the stops M, engaging the lever N.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, with asupport and a vertically moving spring actuated frame mounted therein,of a slide mounted in the lower end of the said frame, a spring-actuatedwheel jonrnaled in the slide, and mechanism for locking the wheel withthe frame when the said slide is in its normal position, but whichreleases the said wheel when the slide is pushed upward, substantiallyas shown and described.

2. The combination, with a support and a vertically-movingspring-actuated frame supported thereby, of a slide mounted in the lowerend of the frame, a spring-actuated torpedo-placin g wheel journaled inthe lower end of the slide, stops on the side of the wheel, a leverpivoted to the side of the frame which engages the said stops, and aconnection between the upper end of the slide and the said lever,substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with a laterally-adj ustable forked support, and aremovable bar which connects the ends of the said fork, of atorpedo-placing mechanism made adjnstable in the said support,substantially as shown and described.

4;. The combination, with a support and a vertically-adjustable casingsecured thereto, of a vertically-moving spring-actuated frame secured tothe said casing and formed with a forked lower end, guideways formed onthe inner sides of the said forks, a'spring-actuated slide adapted tomove in said guides, a torpedo placing wheel jonrnaledin the lower endof the said slide, stops secured to the side of the wheel, a leverpivoted to the fork of the frame and adapted to engage the said stops,and a connection between the free end of said lever and the upper end ofthe said slide, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination, with the forked frame having a slotted gnideway, ofa spring-actuated slide moving in said forked end, a stop secured to theupper end of the said slide and protruding through the said slot, alever pivoted between its ends to the frame, a springactuated wheeljournaled in the lower end of the slide, stops secured to the side ofthe wheel, which are engaged by the said lever, and a connection betweenthe said lever and the stop on the slide, substantially as shown anddescribed.

6. The combination, with a torpedo-placing mechanismand asupporting-frame therefor, of arms extending rearward from the frame, avertically-moving spring-actuated frame at the outer ends of said arms,and a flanged wheel journaled in the lower end of the said frame,substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEONIDAS SENNET' Witnesses:

DAVID HUDSON, ANDREW A. W1LLIAMs.

ICO

